More Seals off US Northeast Means Learning to Live with Sharks
2020-08-02
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Wildlife experts say a healthy seal population along the Northeast coast of the United States will likely lead to more shark attacks on humans.
2Seals are top targets for large sharks such as the great white.
3The seals are currently doing well in areas of the Northeast thanks to years of protective efforts.
4But in recent years, there have been more attacks on humans.
5Experts say the sharks mistook people for seals.
6The latest attack happened on July 27, off the coast of Maine, when a woman swimmer was killed by a great white shark.
7It was the first recorded deadly shark attack in the state's history.
8The attack on 63-year-old Julie Dimperio Holowach happened off Harpswell, Maine, about 9 to 12 meters from land.
9Swimmers in New England states have learned to be more careful in recent years as more great whites have been seen along coastal areas.
10A 2018 attack that killed a man in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was also believed to be a great white shark.
11It was the first deadly shark attack to happen in Massachusetts in more than 80 years.
12The deadly creatures are not "mad or angry or preferring human flesh," said Greg Skomal, a shark specialist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
13Instead, Skomal told The Associated Press, "They just occasionally make a mistake. And it's tragic when they do."
14Incidents of shark bites remain extremely rare, especially in Northeastern waters.
15The International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida lists only 10 unprovoked shark attacks off New England, records dating back to 1837 show.
16The majority of documented shark attacks in the U.S. happen off Florida.
17Internationally, warm weather countries such as South Africa and Australia have higher totals.
18But shark bites are rare in those places, too.
19Australia has recorded 652 unprovoked shark attacks going back to 1580, the International Shark Attack File states.
20Shark bites in colder northern waters do happen, but they are rare.
21A small number of attacks have been recorded off Russia, Finland and Washington state in the U.S.
22Researchers are seeing more great whites off New England, said James Sulikowski.
23He is an expert on Northeastern sharks based at Arizona State University.
24The greater number of sightings is "unequivocally" because of the healthier seal population off New England, Sulikowski said.
25The seal comeback started with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
26Grey seals - once hunted to the point of disappearing completely - are now common on Cape Cod.
27The sharks are not looking for people, but they are a reason for swimmers to be cautious, Sulikowski said.
28However, as sharks continue to hunt seals for food, the likelihood increases that they will instead find humans, he added.
29In Maine, ocean officers are carrying out searches for sharks following the deadly attack.
30The state has restricted swimming at some state parks.
31It also has sent a clear message to beachgoers: if you see seals, stay away.
32I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Wildlife experts say a healthy seal population along the Northeast coast of the United States will likely lead to more shark attacks on humans. 2Seals are top targets for large sharks such as the great white. The seals are currently doing well in areas of the Northeast thanks to years of protective efforts. 3But in recent years, there have been more attacks on humans. Experts say the sharks mistook people for seals. 4The latest attack happened on July 27, off the coast of Maine, when a woman swimmer was killed by a great white shark. It was the first recorded deadly shark attack in the state's history. The attack on 63-year-old Julie Dimperio Holowach happened off Harpswell, Maine, about 9 to 12 meters from land. 5Swimmers in New England states have learned to be more careful in recent years as more great whites have been seen along coastal areas. 6A 2018 attack that killed a man in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was also believed to be a great white shark. It was the first deadly shark attack to happen in Massachusetts in more than 80 years. 7The deadly creatures are not "mad or angry or preferring human flesh," said Greg Skomal, a shark specialist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Instead, Skomal told The Associated Press, "They just occasionally make a mistake. And it's tragic when they do." 8Incidents of shark bites remain extremely rare, especially in Northeastern waters. The International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida lists only 10 unprovoked shark attacks off New England, records dating back to 1837 show. The majority of documented shark attacks in the U.S. happen off Florida. 9Internationally, warm weather countries such as South Africa and Australia have higher totals. But shark bites are rare in those places, too. Australia has recorded 652 unprovoked shark attacks going back to 1580, the International Shark Attack File states. 10Shark bites in colder northern waters do happen, but they are rare. A small number of attacks have been recorded off Russia, Finland and Washington state in the U.S. 11Researchers are seeing more great whites off New England, said James Sulikowski. He is an expert on Northeastern sharks based at Arizona State University. 12The greater number of sightings is "unequivocally" because of the healthier seal population off New England, Sulikowski said. The seal comeback started with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. 13Grey seals - once hunted to the point of disappearing completely - are now common on Cape Cod. 14The sharks are not looking for people, but they are a reason for swimmers to be cautious, Sulikowski said. However, as sharks continue to hunt seals for food, the likelihood increases that they will instead find humans, he added. 15In Maine, ocean officers are carrying out searches for sharks following the deadly attack. The state has restricted swimming at some state parks. It also has sent a clear message to beachgoers: if you see seals, stay away. 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17The Associate Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 18We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 19_______________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21prefer - v. to like one thing better than something else 22occasionally - adv. sometimes but not often 23unprovoked - adj. happening without a reason or apparent cause 24unequivocal - adj. without doubt, very clearly the case 25cautious - adj. careful about avoiding danger